VISIONS  OF 


i  Joseph  Smith  I  Seer; 


DISCOVERIES  OP  ANCTENT 


AMERICAN  RECORDS  AND  RELICS; 


With  the  statements  of 


DR,  LEDfiRER  (CONVERTED  JEW)  AND  OTHERS; 


PRINTED    BY    THE    BOARD    OF    PUBLICATION    OF    THE    REORGANIZED 

CHURCH  OF  .rijsrs  CHRIST  OF  LATTER  DAY  SAINTS. 


VISIONS  OF 


DISCOVERIES  OF  ANCIENT 


AMERICAN  RECORDS  AND  RELICS ; 


WITH  THE  STATEMENTS  OF 


DR,  LEDERER  (CONVERTED  JEW)  AND  OTHERS. 


PIANO,  ILLINOIS: 

PRINTED  BY  THE  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATIOK  OP  THE  REORGANIZED  CHURCH  OF^JESUS 
CHRIST  OF  LATTER  PAT  SAIXTB. 


Bancroft  Library 

VISIONS  OF  JOSEPH  SMITH, 


The  Seer. 


MR.  JOSEPH  SMITH,  jun.,  who  made  the  following 
important  discovery,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Sharon, 
Windsor  county,  Vermont,  on  the  23d  of  December,  A. 
-  D.  1805.  "When  ten  years  old  his  parents,  with  their 
family,  moved  to  Palmyra,  New  York;  in  the  vicinity 
of  which  he  resided  for  about  eleven  years,  the  latter 
part  in  the  town  of  Manchester.  Cultivating  the  earth 
for  a  livelihood  was  his  occupation,  in  which  he  employ- 
ed the  most  of  his  time.  His  advantages  for  acquiring 
literary  knowledge  were  exceedingly  small;  hence,  his 
education  was  limited  to  a  slight  acquaintance  with  two 
or  three  of  the  common  branches  of  learning.  He  could 
read  without  much  difficulty,  and  write  a  very  imper- 
fect hand ;  and  had  a  very  limited  understanding  of  the 
ground  rules  of  arithmetic.  These  were  his  highest 
and  only  attainments;  while  the  rest  of  those  branches, 
so  universally  taught  in  the  common  schools  throughout 
the  United  States,  were  entirely  unknown  to  him. 
When  somewhere  about  fourteen  or  fifteen  years  old,  he 


REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

began  seriously  to  reflect  upon  the  necessity  of  being 
prepared  for  a  future  state  of  existence ;  but  how,  or  in 
what  way  to  prepare  himself,  was  a  question  as  yet  un- 
determined in  his  own  mind.  He  perceived  that  it  was 
a  question  of  infinite  importance,  and  that  the  salvation 
of  his  soul  depended  upon  a  correct  understanding  of 
the  same.  He  saw  that  if  he  understood  not  the  way, 
it  would  be  impossible  to  walk  in  it  except  by  chance ; 
and  the  thought  of  resting  his  hopes  of  eternal  life  upon 
chance,  or  uncertainties,  was  more  than  he  could  endure. 
If  he  went  to  the  religious  denominations  to  seek  infor- 
mation, each  one  pointed  to  its  particular  tenets,  saying 
— "This  is  the  way,  walk  ye  in  it,"  while  at  the  same 
time,  the  doctrines  of  each  were,  in  many  respects,  in 
direct  opposition  to  one  another.  It  also  occurred  to 
his  mind  that  God  could  be  the  author  of  but  one  doc- 
trine, and  therefore  could  acknowledge  but  one  denom- 
ination as  his  church ;  and  that  such  denomination  must 
be  a  people  who  believe,  and  teach  that  one  doctrine, 
(whatever  that  may  be),  and  build  upon  the  same.  He 
then  reflected  on  the  immense  number  of  doctrines  now 
in  the  world,  which  had  given  rise  to  many  hundreds 
of  different  denominations.  The  great  question  to  be 
decided  in  his  mind  was— If  any  one  of  these  'denom- 
inations be  the  Church  of  Christ,  which  one  is  it  ?  Until 
he  could  become  satisfied,  in  relation  to  this  question r 
he  could  not  rest  contented.  To  trust  to  the  decisions 
of  fallible  men,  and  build  his  hopes  upon  the  same,  with- 
out any  certainty  and  knowledge  of  his  own,  would  not 
satisfy  the  anxious  desires  that  pervaded  his  breast.  To 
decide  without  any  positive  and  definite  evidence  on 
which  he  could  rely,  upon  a  subject  involving  the  future 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  5 

welfare  of  his  soul,  was  revolting  to  his  feelings.  The 
only  alternative  that  seemed  to  be  left  him  was  to  read 
the  Scriptures,  and  endeavor  to  follow  their  directions. 
He  accordingly,  commenced  perusing  the  sacred  pages 
of  the  Bible  with  sincerity,  believing  the  things  that 
he  read.  His  mind  soon  caught  hold  of  the  following 
passage : 

"If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  G-od,  that  giveth  to 
all  men  liberally,  and  upbraideth  not ;  and  it  shall  be  given 
him." — James  1 :5. 

From  this  promise  he  learned  that  it  was  the  priv- 
ilege of  all  men  to  ask  God  for  wisdom,  with  the  sure 
and  certain  expectation  of  receiving  liberally;  without 
being  upbraided  for  so  doing.  This  was  cheering  infor- 
mation to  him;  tidings  that  gave  him  great  joy.  It  was 
like  a  light  shining  forth  in  a  dark  place,  to  guide  him 
to  the  path  in  which  he  should  walk.  He  now  saw  that 
if  he  enquired  of  God  there  was  not  only  a  possibility, 
but  a  probability;  yea  more,  a  certainty  that  he  should 
obtain  a  knowledge,  which  of  all  the  doctrines  was  the 
doctrine  of  Christ,  and  which  of  all  the  churches  was 
the  church  of  Christ.  He  therefore  retired  to  a  secret 
place  in  a  grove,  a  short  distance  from  his  father's  house, 
and  knelt  down  and  began  to  call  upon  the  Lord.  At 
first  he  was  severely  tempted  by  the  powers  of  darkness, 
which  endeavored  to  overcome  him;  but  he  continued 
to  seek  for  deliverance,  until  darkness  gave  way  from 
his  mind,  and  he  was  enabled  to  pray  in  fervency  of  the 
spirit  and  in  faith.  And  while  thus  pouring  out  his 
soul,  anxiously  desiring  an  answer  from  God,  he  at  length 
saw  a  very  bright  and  glorious  light  in  the  heavens  above, 
which  at  first  seemed  to  be  at  a  considerable  distance. 


6  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

He  continued  praying,  while  the  light  appeared  to  be 
gradually  descending  towards  him;  and  as  it  drew  near- 
er it  increased  in  brightness  and  magnitude,  so  that  by 
the  time  that  it  reached  the  tops  of  the  trees,  the  whole 
wilderness,  for  some  distance  around,  was  illuminated 
in  a  most  glorious  and  brilliant  manner.  He  expected 
to  have  seen  the  leaves  and  boughs  of  the  trees  consumed, 
as  soon  as  the  light  came  in  contact  with  them;  but, 
perceiving  that  it  did  not  produce  that  effect,  he  was 
encouraged  with  the  hopes  of  being  able  to  endure  its 
presence.  It  continued  descending  slowly,  until  it  rest- 
ed upon  the  earth,  and  he  was  enveloped  in  the  midst 
of  it.  When  it  first  came  upon  him,  it  produced  a  peculiar 
sensation  throughout  his  whole  system ;  and  immediately 
his  mind  was  caught  away  from  the  natural  objects  with 
which  he  was  surrounded;  and  he  was  enwrapped  in  a 
heavenly  vision,  and  saw  two  glorious  personages,  who 
exactly  resembled  each  other  in  their  features  or  like- 
ness. He  was  informed  that  his  sins  were  forgiven.  He 
was  also  informed  upon  the  subjects  which  had  for  some 
time  previously  agitated  his  mind,  viz. — that  all.the  relig- 
ious denominations  were  believing  in  incorrect  doctrines; 
and,  consequently,  that  none  of  them  was  acknowledged 
of  God,  as  his  church  and  kingdom.  And  he  was  ex- 
pressly commanded  to  go  not  after  them;  and  he  receiv- 
ed a  promise  that  the  true  doctrine*— the  fulness  of  the 
gospel,  should  at  some  future  time  be  made  known  to 
him;  after  which  the  vision  withdrew,  leaving  his  mind 
in  a  state  of  calmness  and  peace,  indescribable.  Some 
time  after  having  received  this  glorious  manifestation, 
being  young,  he  was  again  entangled  in  the  vanities  of 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER. 

the  world,  of  which  he  afterwards  sincerely  and 
repented. 

And  it  pleased  God,  on  the  evening  of  the  21sfc  cf 
September,  A.  D.  1823,  to  again  hear  his  prayera. 
he  had  retired  to  rest  as  usual,  only  that  his  mind  •• 
drawn  out  in  fervent  prayer,  and  his  soul  was  filled  idth 
the  most  earnest  desire  "to  commune  with  some  kiod 
messenger,  who  could  communicate  to  him  the  descrei 
information  of  his  acceptance  with  G-od,"  and  also  ma- 
fold  the  principles  of  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  according: 
to  the  promise  which  he  had  received  in  the  former 
vision.  While  he  thus  continued  to  pour  out  his  desiics, 
before  the  Father  of  all  good,  endeavoring  to  exere&e 
faith  in  his  precious  promises,  "on  a  sudden  a  light  like- 
that  of  day,  only  of  a  purer  and  far  more  glorious  ap- 
pearance and  brightness,  burst  into  the  room.  Indeed, 
the  first  sight  was  as  though  the  house  was  filled  with 
consuming  fire.  This  sudden  appearance  of  a  light  s» 
bright,  as  might  naturally  be  expected,  occasioned  a 
shock  or  sensation  visible  to  the  extremities  of  the  body. 
It  was,  however,  followed  with  a  calmness  and  sereaiiy 
of  mind,  and  an  overwhelming  rapture  of  joy,  that  sur- 
passed understanding,  and  in  a  moment,  a  personage 
stood  before  him/' 

Notwithstanding  the  brightness  of  the  light  wMeli 
previously  illuminated  the  room,  "yet  there  seemed  to 
be  an  additional  glory  surrounding  or  accompany  ing  fcfeis 
personage,  which  shone  with  an  increased  degree  of 
brilliancy,  of  which  he  was  in  the  midst ;  and  though  Ms 
countenance  was  as  lightning,  yet  it  was  of  a  pleasi^g^ 
innocent,  and  glorious  appearance;  so  much  so,  tlnat 


8  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

every  fear  was  banished  from  the  heart,  and  nothing 
but  calmness  pervaded  the  soul." 

"The  stature  of  this  personage  was  a  little  above  the 
common  size  of  men  in  this  age;  his  garment  was  per- 
fectly white,  and  had  the  appearance  of  being  without 
seam." 

This  glorious  being  declared  himself  to  be  an  An- 
gel of  God,  sent  forth  by  commandment  to  communicate 
to  him  that  his  sins  were  forgiven,  and  that  his  prayers 
were  heard;  and  also  to  bring  the  joyful  tidings  that 
the  covenant  which  God  made  with  ancient  Israel,  con- 
cerning their  posterity,  was  at  hand  to  be  fulfilled;  that 
the  great  preparatory  work  for  the  second  coming  of  the 
Messiah  was  speedily  to  commence;  that  the  time  was 
at  hand  for  the  gospel,  in  its  fulness,  to  be  preached  in 
power  unto  all. nations,  that  a  people  might  be  prepared 
with  faith  and  righteousness,  for  the  Millennial  reign  of 
universal  peace  and  joy. 

He  was  informed  that  he  was  called  and  chosen  to 
be  an  instrument  in  the  hands  of  God  to  bring  about 
some  of  his  marvelous  purposes  in  this  glorious  dispen- 
sation. It  was  also  made  manifest  to  him  that  the 
"American  Indians"  were  a  remnant  of  Israel;  that  when 
they  first  emigrated  to  America  theyVere  an  enlighten- 
ed people,  possessing  a  knowledge  of  the  true  God,  en- 
joying his  favor,  and  peculiar  blessings  from  his  hand; 
that  the  prophets,  and  inspired  writers  among  them, 
were  required  to  keep  a  sacred  history  of  the  most"[im- 
portant  events  transpiring  among  them :  which  history 
was  handed  down  for  many  generations,  till  at  length 
they  fell  into  great  wickedness :  the  most*  part  of  them 
were  destroyed,  and  the  records  (by  commandment  of 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  9 

God  to  one  of  the  last  prophets  among  them)  were  safely 
deposited,  to  preserve  them  from  the  hands  of  the  wick- 
ed, who  sought  to  destroy  them.  He  was  informed  that 
these  records  contained  many  sacred  revelations  per- 
taining to  the  gospel  of  the  kingdom,  as  well  as  proph- 
ecies relating  to  the  great  events  of  the  last  days;  and, 
that  to  fulfill  his  promises  to  the  ancients,  who  wrote 
the  records,  and  to  accomplish  his  purposes,  in  the  res- 
titution of  their  children,  &c.,  they  were  to  come  forth 
to  the  knowledge  of  the  people.  If  faithful,  he  was  to 
be  the  instrument,  who  should  be  thus  highly  favored 
in  bringing  these  sacred  things  to  light :  at  the  same  time, 
being  expressly  informed  that  it  must  be  done  with  an 
eye  single  to  the  glory  of  God,  that  no  one  could  be  en- 
trusted with  those  sacred  writings  who  should  endeav- 
or to  aggrandize  himself,  by  converting  sacred  things][to 
unrighteous  and  speculative  purposes.  After  giving 
him  many  instructions  concerning  things  past  and  to 
come,  which  would  be  foreign  to  our  purpose  to  mention 
here,  he  disappeared,  and  the  light  and  glory  of  God 
withdrew,  leaving  his  mind  in  perfect  peace,  while  a 
calmness  and  serenity  indescribable  pervaded  the  soul. 
But  before  morning  the  vision  was  twice  renewed,  in- 
structing him  further  and  still  further,  concerning  the 
great  work  of  God,  about  to  be  performed  on  the  earth. 
In  the  morning  he  went  out  to  his  labor  as  usual;  but  soon 
the  vision  was  renewed — the  Angel  again  appeared; 
and  having  been  informed  by  the  previous  visions  of  the 
night,  concerning  the  place  where  those  records  were 
deposited,  he  was  instructed  to  go  immediately  and  view 
them. 

Accordingly  he  repaired  to  the  place, — a  brief  de- 


10  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

scription  of  which  shall  be  given,  in  the  words  of  &  gen- 
tleman, by  the  name  of  Oliver  Cowdery,  who  has  visited 
the  spot. 

"  As  you  pass  on  the  mail-road,  from  Palmyra,  Wayne 
county,  to  Canandaigua,  Ontario  county,  New  York, 
before  arriving  at  the  little  village  of  Manchester,  say 
from  three  to  four,  or  about  four  miles  from  Palmyra, 
you  pass  a  large  hill  on  the  east  side  of  the  road.  Why 
I  say  large,  is  because  it  is  as  large,  perhaps,  as  any  in 
that  country. 

"The  north  end  rises  quite  suddenly,  until  it  as- 
sumes a  level  with  the  more  southerly  extremity;  and 
I  think  I  may  say  an  elevation  higher  than  at  the  south, 
a  short  distance,  say  half  or  three-fourths  of  a  mile.  As 
you  pass  towards  Canandaigua,  it  lessens  gradually,  un- 
til the  surface  assumes  its  common  level,  or  is  broken 
by  other  smaller  hills  or  ridges,  water-courses  and  rav- 
ines. I  think  I  am  justified  in  saying  that  this  is  the 
highest  hill  for  some  distance  round,  and  I  am  certain 
that  its  appearance,  as  it  rises  so  suddenly  Prom  a  plain 
on  the  north,  must  attract  the  notice  of  a  traveler  as  he 
passes  by/'  "The  north  end/'  which  has  been  describ- 
ed as  rising  suddenly  from  the  plain,  forms  "a  promon- 
tory without  timber,  but  covered  with  grass/'  As  you 
pass  to  the  south  you  soon  come  to  scattering  timber, 
the  surface  having  been  cleared  by  art  or  wind;  and  a 
short  distance  further  left,  you  are  surrounded  with  the 
common  forest  of  the  country.  It  is  necessary  to  observe, 
that  even  the  part  cleared,  was  only  occupied  for  pas- 
turage; its  steep  ascent,  and  narrow  summit,  not  admit- 
ting the  plough  of  the  husbandman,  with  any  degree  of 
ease  or  profit.  It  was  at  the  second  mentioned  place 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  11 

where  the  record  was  found  to  be  deposited,  on  the  west 
side  of  tho  hill,  not  far  from  the  top,  down  its  side ;  and 
when  myself  visited  the  place  in  the  year  1830,  there 
were  several  trees  standing — enough  to  cause  a  shade 
in  summer,  but  not  so  much  as  to  prevent  the  surface 
being  covered  with  grass — which  was  also  the  case  when 
the  record  was  first  found. 

"How  far  below  the  surface  these  records  were/' 
anciently  "placed,  I  am  not  able  to  say;  but  from  the 
fact,  that  they  had  been  some  fourteen  hundred  years 
buried,  and  that,  too,  on  the  side  of  a  hill  so  steep,  one 
is  ready  to  conclude  that  they  were  some  feet  below,  as 
the  earth  would  naturally  wear  more  or  less  in  that  length 
of  time.  But  they,  being  placed  toward  the  the  top  of 
the  hill,  the  ground  would  not  remove  as  much  as  at 
two-thirds,  perhaps.  Another  circumstance  would  pre- 
vent a  wearing  of  the  earth:  in  all  probability,  as  soon 
as  timber  had  time  to  grow,  the  hill  was  covered,  and 
the  roots  of  the  same  would  hold  the  surface.  However, 
on  this  point,  I  shall  leave  every  man  to  draw  his  own 
conclusions,  and  form  his  own  speculations."  But,  suf- 
fice to  say,  "a  hole  of  sufficient  depth  was  dug.  At  the 
bottom  of  this  was  laid  a  stone  of  suitable  size,  the  upper 
surface  being  smooth.  At  each  edge  was  placed  a  large 
quantity  of  cement,  and  into  this  cement,  at  the  four 
edges  of  this  stone,  were  placed  erect  four  others ;  tlieir 
bottom  edges  resting  in  the  cement,  at  the  outer  edges 
of  the  first  stone.  The  four  last  named,  when  placed 
erect,  formed  a  box:  the  corners,  or  where  the  edges 
of  the  four  came  in  contact,  were  also  cemented  so 
firmly,  that  the  moisture  from  without  was  prevented 
from  entering.  It  is  to  be  observed,  also,  that  the  inner 


12  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

surfaces  of  the  four  erect  or  side  stones  were  smooth. 
This  box  was  sufficiently  large  to  admit  a  breast-plate, 
such  as  was  used  by  the  ancients  to  defend  the  chest, 
etc.,  from  the  arrows  and  weapons  of  their  enemy.  From 
the  bottom  of  the  box,  or  from  the  breast-plate,  arose 
three  small  pillars,  composed  of  the  same  description  of 
cement  used  on  the  edges;  and  upon  these  three  pillars 
were  placed  the  records." — "This  box  containing  the 
records  was  covered  by  another  stone,  the  bottom  surface 
being  flat,  and  the  upper  crowning."  When  it  was 
first  visited  by  Mr.  Smith,  on  the'morning  of  the  22d 
of  September,  1823,  aa  part  of  the  crowning  stone  was 
visible  above  the  surface,  while  the  edges  were  conceal- 
ed by  the  soil  and  grass.  From  which  circumstance  it 
may  be  seen  athat  however  deep  this  box  might  have 
been  placed  at  first,  the  time  had  been  sufficient  to  wear 
the  earth,  so  that  it  was  easily  discovered,  when  once 
directed,  and  yet  not  enough  to  make  a  perceivable  dif- 
ference to  the  passer-by." — "After  arriving'at  thejre- 
pository,  a  little  exertion  in  removing  the  soil  from  the 
top  of  the  box,  and  a  light  pry,  brought  to'Jhis  natural 
vision  its  contents."  While  viewing  and  contemplating 
this  sacred  treasure  with  wonder  and  astonishment,  be- 
hold !  the  angel  of  the  Lord,  who  had  previously  visited 
him,  again  stood  in  his  presence,  and  his  soul  was  again 
enlightened  as  it  was  the  evening  before,  and  he  was 
filled  with  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  the  heavens  were  open- 
ed, and  the  glory  of  the*Lord  shone  round  about  and 
rested  upon  him.  While  he  thus  stood  gazing  and  ad- 
miring, the  Angel  said,  "Look !"  And  as  he  thus  spake, 
he  beheld  the  Prince  of  Darkness,  surrounded  by  his 
innumerable  train  of  associates.  All  this  passed  before 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  13 

him,  and  the  heavenly  messenger  said,  "AlUhis  is  shown, 
the  good  and  the  evil,  the  holy  and  impure,  the  glory  of 
God  and  the  power  of  darkness,  that  you  may  know  here- 
after the  two  powers  and  never  bejmfluenced  or  over- 
come by  that  wicked  one.  Behold,  whatsoever  enticeth 
and  leadeth  to  good  and  to  do  good,  is  of  God,  and  what- 
soever doth  not,  is  of  the  wicked  one.  It  is  he  that  fill- 
eth  the  hearts  of  men  with  evil,  to  walk  in  darkness  and 
blaspheme  God ;  and  you  may  learn  from  henceforth, 
that  his  ways  are  to  destruction,  but  the  way  of  holiness 
is  peace  and  rest.  You  cannot  at  this  time^obtain  this 
record,  for  the  commandment  of  God  is  strict,  and  if 
ever  these  sacred  things  are  obtained,  they  must  be  by 
prayer  and  faithfulness  in  obeying  the  Lord.  They  are 
not  deposited  here  for  the  sake  of  accumulating  gain  and 
wealth  for  the  glory  of  this  world ;  they  were  sealed  by 
the  prayer  of  faith,  and  because  of  the  knowledge'which 
they  contain,  they  are  of  no  worth  among  the  children 
of  men,  only  for  their  knowledge.  On  them  is  contain- 
ed the  fulness  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  it  was 
given  to  his  people  on  this  land;  and  when  it  shall  be 
brought  forth  by  the  power  of  God,  it  shall  be  carried 
to  the  Gentiles,  of  whom  many  will  receive  it,  and  after 
will  the  seed  of  Israel  be  brought  into  the  fold  of  their 
Redeemer  by  obeying  it  also.  Those  who  kept  the  com- 
mandments of  the  Lord  on  this  land,  desired  this  at  his 
hand,  and  through  the  prayer  of  faith  obtained  the 
promise,  that  if  their  descendants  should  transgress  and 
fall  away,  that  a  record  should  be  kept,  and  in  the  last 
days  come  to  their  children.  These  things  are  sacred, 
and  must  be  kept  so,  for  the  promise  of  the  Lord  con- 
cerning them  [must  be  fulfilled.  No  man  can  obtain 


14  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

them  if  his  heart  is  impure,  because  they  contain  that 
which  is  sacred."  *  *  *  "By  them  will  the  Lord  work 
a  great  and  marvelous  work;  the  wisdom  of  the  wise 
shall  become  as  nought,  and  the  understanding  of  the 
prudent  shall  be  hid,  and  because  the  power  of  God  shall 
be  displayed,  those  who  profess  to  know  the  truth,  but 
walk  in  deceit,  shall  tremble  with  anger ;  but  with  signs 
and  with  wonders,  with  gifts  and  with  healings,  with 
the  manifestations  of  the  power  of  God,  and  with  the 
Holy  Ghost,  shall  the  hearts  of  the  faithful  be  comfort- 
ed. You  have  now  beheld  the  power  of  God  manifest- 
ed, and  the  power  of  Satan ;  you  see  that  there  is  noth- 
ing desirable  in  the  works  of  darkness;  that  they  can 
not  bring  happiness;  that  those  who  are  overcome  there- 
with are  miserable ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  the  right- 
eous are  blessed  with  a  place  in  the  kingdom  of  God, 
where  joy  unspeakable  surrounds  them.  There  they 
rest  beyond  the  power  of  the  enemy  of  truth,  where  no 
evil  can  disturb  them.  The  glory  of  God  crowns  them, 
and  they  continually  feast  upon  his  goodness  and  enjoy 
his  smiles.  Behold,  notwithstanding  you  have  seen 
this  great  display  of  power,  by  which  you  may  ever  be 
able  to  detect  the  evil  one,  yet  I  give  unto  you  another 
sign,  and  when  it  comes  to  pass  then  know  that  the 
Lord  is  God,  and  that  he  will  fulfill  his  purposes,  and 
that  the  knowledge  which  this  record  contains  will  go 
to  every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people 
under  the  whole  heaven.  This  is  the  sign;  when  these 
things  begin  to  be  known;  that  is,  when  it  is  known 
that  the  Lord  has  shown  you  these  things,  the  workers 
of  iniquity  will  seek  your  overthrow.  They  will  circu- 
late falsehoods  to  destroy  your  reputation,  and  also  will 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  15 

seek  to  take  you  life;  but  remember  this,  if  you  are 
faithful,  and  shall  hereafter  continue  to  keep  the  com- 
mandments of  the  Lord,  you  shall  be  preserved  to  bring 
these  things  forth;  for  in  due  time  he  will  give  you  a 
commandment  to  come  and  take  them.  When  they  are 
interpreted,  the  Lord  will  give  the  holy  priesthood  to 
some,  and  they  shall  begin  to  proclaim  this  gospel  and 
baptize  by  water,  and  after  that,  they  shall  have  power 
to  give  the  Holy  G-host  by  the  laying  on  of  their  hands. 
Then  will  persecution  rage  more  and  more,  for  the  iniqui- 
ties of  men  shall  be  revealed,  and  those  who  are  not  built 
upon  the  Rock  will  seek  to  overthrow  the  church;  but 
it  will  increase  the  more  opposed,  and  spread  farther  and 
farther,  increasing  in  knowledge  till  they  shall  be  sanc- 
tified, and  receive  an  inheritance  where  the  glory  of  God 
will  rest  upon  them;  'and  when  this  takes  place,  and  all 
things  are  prepared,  the  ten  tribes  of  Israel  will  be  re- 
vealed in  the  north  country,  whither  they  have  been  for 
a  long  season;  and  when  this  is  fulfilled  will  be  brought 
to  pass  that  saying  of  the  prophet, — <  And  the  Redeemer 
shall  come  to  Zion,  and  unto  them  that  turn  from  trans- 
gressions in  Jacob,  saith  the  Lord/  But,  notwithstand- 
ing the  workers  of  iniquity  shall  seek  your  destruction, 
the  arm  of  the  Lord  will  be  extended,  and  you  will  be 
borne  off  conqueror,  if  you  keep  all  his  commandments. 
Your  name  shall  be  known  among  the  nations,  for  the 
work  which  the  Lord  will  perform  by  your  hands  shall 
cause  the  righteous  to  rejoice  and  the  wicked  to  rage; 
with  the  one  it  shall  be  had  in  honor,  and  with  the  other 
in  reproach;  yet  with  these  it  shall  be  a  terror,  because 
of  the  great  and  marvelous  work  which  shall  follow  the 
coming  forth  of  this  fulness  of  the  gospel.  Now  go  thy 


16  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF     ' 

way,  remembering  what  the  Lord  has  done  for  thee,  and 
be  diligent  in  keeping  his  commandments,  and  he  will 
deliver  thee  from  temptations  and  all  the  arts  and  devices 
of  the  wicked  one.  Forget  not  to  pray,  that  thy  mind 
may  become  strong,  arid  when  he  shall  manifest  unto 
thee  thou  mayest  have  power  to  escape  the  evil,  and  ob- 
tain these  precious  things." 

The  above  quotation  is  an  extract  from  a  letter 
written  by  Elder  Oliver  Cowdery,  which  was  published 
in  the  "Latter  Day  Saints'  Messenger  and  Advocate" 

Although  many  more  instructions  were  given  by  the 
mouth  of  the  angel  to  Mr.  Smith,  which  we  do  not  write 
in  this  book,  yet  the  most  important  items  are  contained 
in  the  foregoing  relation.  During  the  period  of  the  four 
following  years  he  frequently  received  instructions  from 
the  mouth  of  the  heavenly  messenger.  And  on  the 
morning  of  the  22d  of  September,  A.  D.  1827,  the  angel 
of  the  Lord  delivered  the  records  into  his  hands. 

These  records  were  engraved  on  plates,  which  had 
the  appearance  of  gold.  Each  plate  was  not  far  from 
seven  by  eight  inches  in  width  and  length,  being  not 
quite  as  thick  as  common  tin.  They  were  filled  on  both 
sides  with  engravings,  in  Egyptian  characters,  and  bound 
together  in  a  volume,  as  the  leaves  of  a  book,  and  fasten- 
ed at  one  edge  with  three  rings  running  through  the 
whole.  This  volume  was  something  near  six  inches  in 
thickness,  a  part  of  which  was  sealed.  *  The  characters 
or  letters  upon  the  unsealed  part  were  small,  and  beauti- 
fully engraved.  The  whole  book  exhibited  many  marks 
of  antiquity  in  its  construction,  as  well  as  much  skill  in 

*  NOTE.— Wm.  B.  Smith,  brother  to  the  prophet,  says  he  saw 
it  weighed,  and  that  it  weighed  sixty  pounds. 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  17 

the  art  of  engraving.  With  the  records  was  found  "a 
curious  instrument,  called  by  the  ancients  the  Urim  and 
Thummim.  This  was  in  use  in  ancient  times  by  persons 
called Jseers.  It  was  an  instrument  by  the  use  of  which 
they  received  revelation  of  things  distant,  or  of  things 
past  or  future/' 

In  the  meantime  the  inhabitants  of  that  vicinity 
having  been  informed  that  Mr.  Smith  had  seen  heaven- 
ly visions,  and  that  he  had  discovered  sacred  records, 
began  to  ridicule  and  mock  at  those  things.  And,  after 
having  obtained  those  sacred  things,  while  proceeding 
home  through  the  wilderness  and  fields,  he  was  waylaid 
by  two  ruffians,  who  had  secreted  themselves  for  the 
purpose  of  fobbing  him  of  the  records.  One  of  them 
struck  him  with  a  club  before  he  perceived  them;  but, 
being  a  strong  man,  and  large  in  stature,  with  great 
exertion  he  cleared  himself  from  them,  and  ran  towards 
home,  being  closely  pursued  until  he  came  near  his 
father's  house,  when  his  pursuers,  for  fear  of  being 
detected,  turned  and  fled  the  other  way. 

Soon  the  news  of  his  discoveries  spread  abroad 
throughout  all  those  parts.  False  reports,  misrepre- 
sentations, and  base  slanders  flew  as  if  upon  the  wings 
of  the  wind  in  every  direction.  The  house  was  fre- 
quently beset  by  mobs  and  evil  designing  persons. 
Several  times  he  was  shot  at  and  very  narrowly  es- 
caped. Every  device  was  used  to  get  the  plates  away 
from  him.  And,  being  continually  in  danger  of  his  life 
from  a  gang  of  abandoned  wretches,  he  at  length  con- 
cluded to  leave  the  place  and  go  to  Pennsylvania;  and 
accordingly  packed  up  his  goods,  putting  the  plates  into 
a  barrel  of  beans,  and  proceeded  upon  his  journey. '  He 


18  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

had  not  gone  far  before  he  was  overtaken  by  an  officer 
with  a  search  warrant,  who  flattered  himself  with  the 
idea  that  he  should  surely  obtain  the  plates;  after  search- 
ing very  diligently,  he  was  sadly  disappointed  at  not 
finding  them.  Mr  Smith  then  drove  on ;  but  before  he 
got  to  his  journey's  end,  he  was  again  overtaken  by  an 
officer  on  the  same  business,  who,  after  ransacking  the 
wagon  very  carefully,  went  his  way  as  much  cha- 
grined as  the  first  at  not  being  able  to  discover  the 
object  of  his  search.  Without  any  further  molesta- 
tion he  pursued  his  journey  until  he  came  into  the 
northern  part  of  Pennsylvania,  near  the  Susquehannah 
river,  in  which  part  his  father-in-law  resided. 

Having  provided  himself  with  a  home,  he  com- 
menced translating  the  record  by  the  gift  and  power  of 
God,  through  the  means  of  the  Urim  and  Thummim; 
but,  being  a  poor  writer,  he  was  under  the  necessity  of 
employing  a  scribe  to  write  the  translation  as  it  came 
from  his  mouth. 

In  the  meantime  a  few  of  the  original  characters 
were  accurately  transcribed  and  translated  by  Mr. 
Smith,  which,  with  the  translation,  were  taken  by  a 
gentleman  by  the  name  of  Martin  Harris,  to  the  city 
of  New  York,  where  they  were  presented  to  a  learned 
gentleman  by  the  name  of  Anthon,  who  professed  to  be 
extensively  acquainted  with  many  languages,  both  an- 
cient and  modern.  He  examined  them,  but  was  unable 
to  decipher  them  correctly,  but  he  presumed  that  if  the 
original  records  could  be  brought,  he  could  assist  in 
translating  them. 

But  to  return.  Mr.  Smith  continued  the  work  of 
translation,  as  his  pecuniary  circumstances  would  permit, 


.JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  19 

until  he  finished  the  unsealed  part  of  the  records.  The 
part  translated  is  entitled  the  "Book  of  Mormon/'  which 
contains  nearly  as  much  reading  as  the  Old  Testament. 
In  this  important  and  most  interesting  book  we 
can  read  the  history  of  ancient  America,  from  its  early 
settlement  by  a  colony  who  came  from  the  tower  of 
Babel  at  the  confusion  of  languages,  to  the  beginning 
of  the  fifth  century  of  the  Christian  era.  By  these 
records  we  are  informed  that  America  in  ancient  times 
was  inhabited  by  two  distinct  races  of  people.  The 
first,  or  more  ancient  race,  came  directly  from  the  great 
tower,  being  called  Jaredites.  The  second  race  came 
directly  from  the  city  of  Jerusalem  about  six  hundred 
years  before  Christ,  being  Israelites,  principally  the 
descendants  of  Joseph.  The  first  nation,  or  Jaredites, 
were  destroyed  about  the  time  that  the  Israelites  came 
from  Jerusalem,  who  succeeded  them  in  the  inheritance 
of  the  country.  The  principal  nation  of  the  second  race 
fell  in  battle  towards  the  close  of  the  fourth  century. 
The  remaining  remnant,  having  dwindled  into  an  un- 
civilized state,  still  continue  to  inhabit  the  land,  although 
divided  into  a  "multitude  of  nations/'  and  are  called  by 
Europeans  the  "American  Indians." 

We  learn  from  this  very  ancient  history,  that  at 
the  confusion  of  languages,  when  the  Lord  scattered  the 
people  upon  all  the  face  of  the  earth,  the  Jaredites  being 
a  righteous  people,  obtained  favor  in  the  sight  of  the 
Lord,  and  were  not  confounded.  And  because  of  their 
righteousness,  the  Lord  miraculously  led  them  from  the 
tower  to  the  great  ocean,  where  they  were  commanded 
to  build  vessels,  in  which  they  were  marvelously  brought 
across  the  great  deep  to  the  shores  of  North  America. 


20  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

And  the  Lord  God  promised  to  give  them  America, 
which  was  a  very  choice  land  in  his  sight,  for  an  inheri- 
tance. And  he  swore  unto  them  in  his  wrath,  that 
whoso  should  possess  this  land  of  promise  from  that 
time,  henceforth  and  forever,  should  serve  him,  the  true 
and  only  God,  or  they  should  be  swept  off  when  the  full- 
ness of  his  wrath  should  come  upon  them,  and  they 
were  fully  ripened  in  iniquity.  Moreover,  he  promised 
to  make  them  a  great  and  powerful  nation,  so  that 
there  should  be  no  greater  nation  upon  all  the  face 
of  the  earth. 

Accordingly  in  process  of  time  they  became  a  very 
numerous  and  powerful  people,  occupying  principally 
North  America ,  and  building  large  cities  in  all  quarters 
of  the  land,  being  a  civilized  and  enlightened  nation. 
Agriculture  and  machinery  were  carried  on  to  a  great 
extent.  Commercial  and  manufacturing  business  flour- 
ished on  every  hand ;  yet,  in  consequence  of  wickedness, 
they  were  often  visited  with  terrible  judgments.  Many 
prophets  were  raised  up  amongHhem  from  generation  to 
generation,  who  testified  against  the  wickedness  of  the 
people,  and  prophesied  of  judgments  and  calamities 
which  awaited  them  if  they  did  not  repent,  &c.  Some- 
times they  were  visited  by  pestilence  and  plagues,  and 
sometimes  by  famine  and  war,  until  at  length  (having 
occupied  the  land  some  fifteen  or  sixteen  hundred  years) 
their  wickedness  became  so  great,  that  the  Lord  threat- 
ened, by  the  mouth  of  his  prophets  to  utterly  destroy 
them  from  the  face  of  the  land.  But  they  gave  no  heed 
to  these  warnings;  therefore  the  word  of  the  Lord  was 
fulfilled,  and  they  were  entirely  destroyed,  leaving  their 
houses,  their  cities  and  their  lands  desolate,  and  their 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  21 

sacred  records  also,  which  were  kept  on  gold  plates  were 
left  by  one  of  their  last  prophets,  whose  name  was  Ether, 
in  such  a  situation  that  they  were  discovered  by  the 
remnant  of  Joseph,  who  soon  afterwards  were  brought 
from  Jerusalem  to  inherit  the  land. 

This  remnant  of  Joseph  were  also  led  in  a  miracu- 
lous manner  from  Jerusalem,  in  the  first  year  of  the 
reign  of  Zedekiah  king  of  Judah.  They  were  first 
led  to  the  eastern  borders  of  the  Bed  Sea;  then  they 
journeyed  for  some  time  along  the  borders  thereof,  nearly 
in  a  southeast  direction ;  after  which  they  altered  their 
course  nearly  eastward,  until  they  came  to  the  great 
waters  where,  by  the  commandment  of  God,  they  built 
a  vessel  in  which  they  were  safely  brought  across  the 
great  Pacific  ocean,  and  landed  upon  the  western  coast 
of  South  America. 

In  the  eleventh  year  of  the  reign  of  Zedekiah,  at 
the  time  the  Jews  were  carried  away  captive  into  Baby- 
lon, another  remnant  were  brought  out  of  Jerusalem, 
some  of  whom  were  descendants  of  Judah.  They  land- 
ed in  North  America,  but  soon  after  emigrated  into 
the  northern  parts  of  South  America,  where. they  were 
discovered  by  the  remnant  of  Joseph,  something  like 
four  hundred  years  afterwards. 

From  these  ancient  records  we  learn  that  this  rem- 
nant of  Joseph,  soon  after  they  landed,  separated  them- 
selves into  two  distinct  nations.  This  division  was 
caused  by  a  certain  portion  of  them,  because  of  their 
righteousness,  being  greatly  persecuted  by  the  remain- 
der. The  persecuted  nation  emigrated  towards  the  north- 
ern parts  of  South  America,  leaving  the  wicked  nation  in 
possession  of  the  middle  and  southern  parts  of  the  same. 


22  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

The  former  were  called  Nephites,  being  led  by  a  prophet 
whose  name  was  Nephi ;  the  latter  were  called  Lamanites, 
being  led  by  a  very  wicked  man  whose  name  was  Laman. 
The  Nephites  had  in  their  possession  a  copy  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  viz :  the  five  books  of  Moses,  and  the  proph- 
ecies of  the  holy  prophets  down  to  Jeremiah,  in  whose 
days  they  left  Jerusalem.  These  Scriptures  were  en- 
graved on  plates  of  brass  in  the  Egyptian  language. 
They  themselves  also  made  plates  soon  after  their  land- 
ing, on  which  they  began  to  engrave  their  own  history, 
prophecies,  visions,  and  revelations.  All  these  sacred 
records  were  kept  by  holy  and  righteous  men,  who  were 
inspired  by  the  Holy  Grhost,  and  were  carefully  pre- 
served and  handed  down  from  generation  to  generation. 
And  the  Lord  gave  unto  them  the  whole  continent 
for  a  land  of  promise,  and  he  promised  that  they  and 
their  children  after  them  should  inherit  it,  on  condition 
of  their  obedience  to  his  commandments;  but  if  they 
were  disobedient,  they  should  be  cut  off  from  his  pres- 
ence. And  the  Nephites  began  to  prosper  in  the  land 
according  to  their  righteousness,  and  they  multiplied 
and  spread  forth  to  the  east,  and  west,  and  north; 
building  large  villages,  and  cities,  and  synagogues,  and 
temples,  together  with  forts  and  towers  and  fortifications 
to  defend  themselves  against  their  enemies.  And  they 
cultivated  the  earth,  and  raised  various  kinds  of  grain 
in  abundance.  They  also  raised  numerous  flocks  of 
domestic  animals,  and  became  a  very  wealthy  people; 
having  in  abundance  gold,  silver,  copper, 'tin,  iron,  &c. 
Arts  and  sciences  flourished  to  a  great  extent.  Various 
kinds  of  machinery  were  in  use.  Cloths  of  various  kinds 
were  manufactured.  Swords,  cimeters,  axes  and  various 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  23 

implements  of  war  were  made,  together  with  head- 
shields,  arm-shields  and  breast-plates  to  defend  them- 
selves in  battle  with  their  enemies.  And  in  the  days  of 
their  righteousness  they  were  a  civilized,  enlightened 
and  happy  people. 

But,  on  the  other  hand,  the  Lamanites,  because  of 
the  hardness  of  their  hearts,  brought  down  many  judg- 
ments upon  their  own  heads;  nevertheless  they  were 
not  destroyed  as  a  nation,  but  the  Lord  Grod  sent  forth 
a  curse  upon  them,  and  they  became  a  dark,  loathsome 
and  filthy  people.  Before  their  rebellion  they  were 
white  and  exceedingly  fair,  like  the  Nephites;  but  the 
Lord  God  cursed  them  in  their  complexions,  and  they 
were  changed  to  a  dark  color ;  and  they  became  a  wild, 
savage  and  ferocious  people,  being  great  enemies  to  the 
Nephites,  whom  they  sought  by  every  means  to  destroy, 
and  many  times  came  against  them  with  their  numerous 
hosts  to  battle,  but  were  repulsed  by  the  Nephites  and 
driven  back  to  their  own  possessions,  not,  however, 
generally  speaking,  without  great  loss  on  both  sides;  for 
tens  of  thousands  were  very  frequently  slain,  after  which 
they  were  piled  together  in  great  heaps  upon  the  face 
of  the  ground  and  covered  with  a  shallow  covering  of 
earth,  which  will  satisfactorily  account  for  those  ancient 
mounds,  filled  with  human  bones,  so  numerous  at  the 
present  day,  both  in  North  and  South  America. 

The  second  colony,  which  left  Jerusalem  eleven 
years  after  the  remnant  of  Joseph  left  that  city,  landed 
in  North  America  and  emigrated  from  thence  to  the 
northern  parts  of  South  America ;  and  about  four  hun- 
dred years  after  they  were  discovered  by  the  Nephites, 
as  we  stated  in  the  foregoing. 


24  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

They  were  called  the  people  of  Zarahemla.  \  They 
had  been  perplexed  by  many  wars  among  themselves; 
and,  having  brought  no  records  with  them,  their  lan- 
guage had  become  corrupted,  and  they  denied  the  being 
of  God;  and  at  the  time  they  were  discovered  by  the 
Nephites  they  were  very  numerous,  and  only  in  a  partial 
state  of  civilization ;  but  the  Nephites  united  with  them 
and  taught  them  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  they  were 
restored  to  civilization  and  became  one  nation  with 
them.  And  in  process  of  time  the  Nephites  began  to 
build  ships  near  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  and  launch  them 
forth  into  the  western  ocean,  in  which  great  numbers 
sailed  a  great  distance  to  the  northward,  and  began  to 
colonize  North  America.  Other  colonies  emigrated  by 
land,  and  in  a  few  centuries  the  whole  continent  became 
peopled.  North  America  at  that  time  was  almost  entire- 
ly destitute  of  timber,  it  paving  been  cut  off  by  the 
more  ancient  race,  who  came  from  the  great  tower  at 
the  confusion  of  languages;  but  the  Nephites  became 
very  skillful  in  building  houses  of  cement,  also  much 
timber  was  carried  by  the  way  of  shipping  from  South 
to  North  America.  They  also  planted  groves  and  began 
to  raise  timber,  that  in  time  their  wants  might  be  sup- 
plied. Large  cities  were  built  in  .various  parts  of  the 
continent,  both  among  the  Lamanites  and  Nephites. 
The  law  of  Moses  was  observed  by  the  latter.  Numerous 
prophets  were  raised  up  from  time  to  time  throughout 
their  generations.  .Many  records,  both  historical  and 
prophetical,  which  were  of  great  size,  were  kept  among 
them;  some  on  plates  of  gold  and  other  metals,  and 
some  on  other  materials.  The  sacred  records  also  of 
the  more  ancient  race  who  had  been  destroyed  were 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  25 

found  by  them.  These  were  engraved  on  plates  of  gold. 
They  translated  them  into  their  own  language  by  the  gift 
and  power  of  G-od,  through  the  means  of  the  Urim  and 
Thummim.  They  contained  an  historical  account  from 
the  creation  down  to  the  Tower  of  Babel,  and  from  that 
time  down  until  they  were  destroyed,  comprising  a  period 
of  about  thirty-four  hundred  or  thirty-five  hundred  years. 
They  also  contain  many  prophecies,  great  and  marvel- 
ous, reaching  forward  to  the  final  end  and  consummation 
of  all  things,  and  the  creation  of  the  new  heaven  and 
new  earth. 

The  prophets  also  among  the  Nephites  prophesied 
of  great  things.  They  opened  the  secrets  of  futurity, 
and  saw  the  coming  of  Messiah  in  the  flesh,  and  proph- 
esied of  the  blessing  to  come  upon  their  descendants  in 
the  latter  times,  and  made  known  the  history  of  unborn 
generations,  and  unfolded  the  grand  events  of  ages  to 
come,  and  viewed  the  power  and  glory  and  majesty  of 
Messiah's  second  advent,  and  beheld  the  establishment 
of  the  kingdom  of  peace,  and  gazed  upon  the  glories  of 
the  day  of  righteousnes,  and  saw  creation  redeemed  from 
the  curse,  and  all  the  righteous  filled  with  songs  of  ever- 
lasting joy. 

The  Nephites  knew  of  the  birth  and  crucifixion  of 
Christ,  by  certain  celestial  and  terrestrial  phenomena, 
which,  at  those  times,  were  shown  forth  in  fulfillment  of 
the  predictions  of  many  of  their  prophets.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  many  blessings  with  which  they  had  been  blessed, 
they  had  fallen  into  great  wickedness,  and  had  cast  out 
the  Saints  and  the  Prophets,  and  stoned  and  killed  them. 
Therefore,  at  the  time  of  the  crucifixion  of  Christ,  they 
were  visited  in  great  j  udgment.  Thick  darkness  covered 


26  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

the  whole  continent.  The  earth  was  terribly  convulsed. 
The  rocks  were  rent  into  broken  fragments,  and  after- 
wards found  in  seams  and  cracks  upon  all  the  face  of 
the  land.  Mountains  were  sunk  into  valleys,  and  valleys 
raised  into  mountains.  The  highways  and  level  roads 
were  broken  up  and  spoiled.  Many  cities  were  laid  in 
ruins.  Others  were  buried  up  in  the  depths  [of  the 
earth  and  mountains  occupied  their  place,  while  oth- 
ers were  sunk  and  waters  came  up  in  their  stead,  and 
others  still  were  burned  by  fire  from  heaven. 

Thus  the  predictions  of  their  prophets  were  fulfilled 
upon  their  heads.  Thus  the  more  wicked  part,  both  of 
the  Nephites  and  Lamanites,  were  destroyed.  Thus  the 
Almighty  executed  vengeance  and  fury  upon  them,  that 
the  blood  of  the  Saints  and  Prophets  might  no  longer 
cry  from  the  ground  against  them. 

Those  who  survived  these  terrible  judgments  were 
favored  with  the  personal  ministry  of  Christ.  For  after 
he  arose  from  the  dead,  and  finished  his  ministry  at 
Jerusalem,  and  ascended  to  heaven,  he  descended  in  the 
presence  of  the  Nephites,  who  were  assembled  round 
about  their  temple  in  the  northern  parts  of  South 
America.  He  exhibited  to  them  his  wounded  hands, 
and  side,  and  feet;  and  commanded  the  law  of  Moses  to 
be  abolished ;  and  introduced  and  established  the  Gospel 
in  its  stead;  and  chose  twelve  disciples  from  among  them 
to  administer  the  same;  and  instituted  the  sacrament; 
and  prayed  for  and  blessed  their  little  children;  and 
healed  their  sick,  and  blind,  and  lame,  and  deaf,  and 
those  who  were  afflicted  in  any  way,  and  raised  a  man 
from  the  dead,  and  showed  forth  his  power  in  their 
midst;  and  expounded  the  Scriptures  which  had  been 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  27 

given  from  the  beginning  down  to  that  time;  and  made 
known  unto  them  all  things  which  should  take  place 
down  until  he  should  come  in  his  glory,  and  from  that 
time  down  to  the  end,  when  all  people,  nations  and  lan- 
guages should  stand  before  God  to  be  judged,  and  the 
heaven  and  the  earth  should  pass  away,  and  there  should 
be  a  new  heaven  and  new  earth.  These  teachings  of 
Jesus  were  engraved  upon  plates,  some  of  which  are  con- 
tained in  the  Book  of  Mormon ;  but  the  more  part  are 
not  revealed  in  that  book,  but  are  hereafter  to  be  made 
manifest  to  the  Saints. 

After  Jesus  had  finished  ministering  unto  them  he 
ascended  into  heaven;  and  the  twelve  disciples,  whom 
he  had  chosen,  went  forth  upon  all  the  face  of  the  land 
preaching  the  gospel;  baptizing  those  who  repented,  for 
the  remission  of  sins,  after  which  they  laid  their  hands 
upon  them  that  they  might  receive  the  Holy  Spirit. 
Mighty  miracles  were  wrought  by  them,  and  also  by 
many  of  the  church.  The  Nephites  and  Lamanites  were 
all  converted  unto  the  Lord,  both  in  South  and  North 
America;  and  they  dwelt  in  righteousness  above  three 
hundred  years ;  but  towards  the  close  of  the  fourth  cen- 
tury of  the  Christian  era,  they  had  so  far  apostatized 
from  God,  that  he  suffered  great  judgments  to  fall  upon 
them.  The  Lamanites,  at  that  time,  dwelt  in  South 
America,  and  the  Nephites  in  North  America. 

A  great  and  terrible  war  commenced  between  them 
which  lasted  for  many  years,  and  resulted  in  the  com- 
plete overthrow  and  destruction  of  the  Nephites.  This 
war  commenced  at  the  Isthmus  of  Darien,  and  was  very 
destructive  to  both  nations  for  many  years.  At  length 
the  Nephites  were  driven  before  their  enemies  a  great 


28  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

distance  to  the  north  and  northeast;  and  having  gather- 
ed their  whole  nation  together,  both  men,  women  and 
children,  they  encamped  on  and  round  about  the  hill 
Cumorah,  where  the  records  were  found,  which  is  in  the 
State  of  New  York,  about  two  hundred  miles  west  of 
the  city  of  Albany.  Here  they  were  met  by  the  numer- 
ous hosts  of  the  Lamanites,  and  were  slain,  and  hewn 
down,  and  slaughtered,  both  male  and  female — the  aged, 
middle  aged  and  children.  Hundreds  of  thousands  were 
slain  on  both  sides,  and  the  nation  of  the  Nephites  were 
destroyed,  excepting  a  few  who  had  deserted  over  to 
the  Lamanites,  and  a  few  who  escaped  into  the  south 
country,  and  a  few  who  fell  wounded,  and  were  left  by 
the  Lamanites  on  the  field  of  battle  for  dead,  among 
whom  were  Mormon  and  his  son  Moroni,  who  were 
righteous  men. 

Mormon  had  made  an  abridgement  from  the  records 
of  his  forefathers  upon  plates,  which  abridgment  he  en- 
titled the  "Book  of  Mormon;"  and,  (being  commanded 
of  God),  he  hid  up  in  the  hill  Cumorah,  all  the  sacred 
records  of  his  forefathers  which  were  in  his  possession, 
except  the  abridgment  called  the  "Book  of  Mormon," 
which  he  gave  to  his  son  Moroni  to  finish.  Moroni 
survived  his  nation  a  few  years,  and  continued  the  writ- 
ings, in  which  he  informs  us  that  the  Lamanites  hunted 
those  few  Nephites  who  escaped  the  great  and  tremen- 
dous battle  of  Cuniorah,  until  they  were  all  destroyed, 
excepting  those  who  were  mingled  with  the  Lamanites, 
and  that  he  was  left  alone,  and  kept  himself  hid,  for  they 
sought  to  destroy  every  Nephite  who  would  cot  deny 
the  Christ.  He  furthermore  states  that  the  Lamanites 
were  at  war  with  one  another,  and  that  the  whole  face 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEER.  29 

of  the  land  was  one  continual  scene  of  murdering,  rob- 
bing and  plundering.  He  continued  the  history  until 
the  four  hundred  and  twentieth  year  of  the  Christian 
era,  when,  (by  the  commandment  of  G-od),  he  hid  up 
the  records  in  the  hill  Cumorah,  where  they  remained 
concealed  until,  by  the  ministry  of  an  angel,  they  were 
discovered  to  Mr.  Smith,  who,  by  the  gift  and  power  of 
God,  translated  them  into  the  English  language,  by  the 
means  of  the  Urim  and  Thummim,  as  stated  in  the  fore- 
going. 

After  the  book  was  translated,  the  Lord  raised  up 
witnesses  to  bear  testimony  to  the  nations  of  its  truth, 
who,  at  the  close  of  the  volume,  send  forth  their  testi- 
mony, which  reads  as  follows : — 

TESTIMONY  OF  THREE  WITNESSES. 

"Be  it  known  unto  all  nations,  kindreds,  tongues  and  people, 
unto  whom  this  work  shall  come,  that  we,  through  the  grace  of 
God  the  Father,  and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  have  seen  the  plates 
which  contain  this  record,  which  is  a  record  of  the  people  of 
Nephi,  and  also  of  the  Lamanites,  their  brethren,  and  also  of  the 
people  of  Jared,  who  came  from  the  tower  of  which  hath  been 
spoken  ;  and  we  also  know  that  they  have  been  translated  by  the 
gift  and  power  of  God,  for  his  voice  hath  declared  it  unto  us  ; 
wherefore  we  know  of  a  surety  that  the  work  is  true.  And  we 
also  testify  that  we  have  seen  the  engravings  which  are  upon  the 
plates  ;  and  they  have  been  shown  unto  us  by  the  power  of  God, 
and  not  of  man.  And  we  declare,  with  words  of  soberness,  that 
an  angel  of  God  came  down  from  heaven,  and  he  brought  and  laid 
before  our  eyes,  that  we  beheld  and  saw  the  plates,  and  the  en- 
gravings thereon ;  and  we  know  that  it  is  by  the  grace  of  God  the 
Father,  and  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  that  we  beheld  and  bear  rec- 
ord that  these  things  are  true  ;  and  it  is  marvelous  in  our  eyes, 
nevertheless,  the  voice  of  the  Lord  commanded  us  that  we  should 
bear  record  of  it ;  wherefore,  to  be  obedient  unto  the  command- 


30  REMARKABLE  VISIONS  OF 

ments  of  God,  we  bear  testimony  of  these  things.  And  we  know 
that  if  we  are  faithful  in  Christ,  we  shall  rid  our  garments  of  the 
blood  of  all  men,  and  be  found  spotless  before  the  judgment  seat 
of  Christ,  and  shall  dwell  with  him  eternally  in  the  heavens.  And 
the  honor  be  to  the  Father,  and  the  Son,  and  to  the  Holy  G-host, 
which  is  one  God.  Amen.  OLIVER  COWDERY, 

DAVID  WHITMER, 
MARTIN  HARRIS." 

AND  ALSO  THE  TESTIMONY  OF  ^EIGHT  WITNESSES. 

"Be  it  known  unto  all  nations,  kindreds,  tongues  and  people, 
unto  whom  this  work  shall  come,  that  Joseph  Smith,  Jr,  the 
translator  of  this  work,  has  shown  unto  us  the  plates  of  which 
hath  been  spoken,  which  have  the  appearance  of  gold ,  and  as 
many  of  the  leaves  as  the  said  Smith  has  translated,  we  did  handle 
with  our  hands  ;  and  we  also  saw  the  engraviegs  thereon,  all  of 
which  has  the  appearance  of  ancient  work,  and  of  curious  work- 
manship. And  this  we  bear  record  with  words  of  soberness,  that 
the  said  Smith  has  shown  unto  us,  for  we  have  seen  and  hefted, 
and  know  of  a  surety  that  the  said  Smith  has  got  the  plates  of 
which  we  have  spoken.  And  we  give  our  names  unto  the  world, 
to  witness  unto  the  world  that  which  we  have  seen  ;  and  we  lie 
not,  God  bearing  witness  of  it. 

CHRISTIAN  WHITMER,  JACOB  WHITMER, 

PETER  WHITMER,  JR.,  JOHN  WHITMER, 

HIRAM  PAGE,  JOSEPH  SMITH,  SEN., 

HIRAM  SMITH,  SAMUEL  H.  SMITH." 

Also  in  the  year  1829,  Mr.  Smith  and  Mr.  Cowdery 
having  learned  the  correct  mode  of  baptism  from  the 
teachings  of  the  Savior  to  the  ancient  Nephites,  as  re- 
corded in  the  "Book  of  Mormon,"  had  a  desire  to  be 
baptized;  but  knowing  that  no  one  had  authority  to 
administer  that  sacred  ordinance  in  any  denomination, 
they  were  at  a  loss  to  know  how  the  authority  was  to  be 
restored,  and  while  calling  upon  the  Lord  with  a  desire 
to  be  informed  on  the  subject,  a  holy  angel  appeared 


JOSEPH  SMITH  THE  SEEE.  31 

and  stood  before  them,  and  laid  his  hands  upon  their 
heads  and  ordained  them,  and  commanded  them  to  bap- 
tize each  other,  which  they  accordingly  did. 

In  the  year  1830,  a  large  edition  of  the  "Book  of 
Mormon"  first  appeared  in  print.  And  as  some  began 
to  peruse  its  sacred  pages,  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  bore 
record  to  them  that  it  was  true ;  and  they  were  obedient 
to  its  requirements,  by  coming  forth,  humbly  repenting 
before  the  Lord,  and  being  immersed  in  water,  for  the 
remission  of  sins,  after  which,  by  the  commandment  of 
God,  hands  were  laid  upon  them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord, 
for  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

And  on  the  sixth  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  thirty,  the  "Church  of 
Jesus  Christ  of  Latter  Day  Saints"  was  organized,  in 
the  town  of  Manchester,  Ontario  County,  State  of  New 
York,  North  America.  Some  few  were  called  and  or- 
dained by  the  Spirit  of  revelation  and  prophecy,  and 
began  to  preach  and  bear  testimony  as  the  Spirit  gave 
them  utterance ;  and  although  they  were  the  weak  things 
of  the  earth,  yet  they  were  strengthened  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  gave  forth  their  testimony  in  great  power, 
by  which  means  many  were  brought  to  repentance,  and 
came  forward  with  broken  hearts  and  contrite  spirits, 
and  were  immersed  in  water,  confessing  their  sins,  and 
were  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost  by  the  laying  on  of 
hands,  and  saw  visions  and  prophesied.  Devils  were 
cast  out,  and  the  sick  were  healed  by  the  prayer  of  faith 
and  laying  on  of  hands.  Thus  was  the  word  confirmed 
unto  the  faithful  by  signs  following.  Thus  the  Lord 
raised  up  witnesses  to  bear  testimony  of  his  name,  and 
lay  the  foundation  of  his  kingdom  in  the  last  days. 


32  REMARKABLE  VISIONS. 

And  thus  the  hearts  of  the  Saints  were  comforted  and 
filled  with  great  joy.  In  the  foregoing  we  have  related 
the  most  important  facts  concerning  the  visions  and  the 
ministry  of  the  angel  to  Mr.  Smith;  the  discovery  of  the 
records;  their  translation  into  the  English  language, 
and  the  witnesses  raised  up  to  bear  testimony  of  the 
same. 

We  have  also  stated  when,  and  by  whom  they  were 
written ;  that  they  contain  the  history  of  nearly  one-half 
of  the  globe,  from  the  earliest  ages  after  the  flood  until 
the  beginning  of  the  fifth  century  of  the  Christian  era; 
that  this  history  is  interspersed  with  many  important 
prophecies  which  unfold  the  great  events  of  the  last 
days,  and  that  in  it  also  is  recorded  the  gospel  in  its 
fullness  and  plainness  as  it  was  revealed  by  the  personal 
ministry  of  Christ  to  the  ancient  Nephites.  We  have 
also  given  an  account  of  the  restoration  of  the  authority 
in  these  days,  to  administer  in  the  ordinances  of  the 
gospel,  and  of  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  church, 
and  of  the  blessings  poured  out  upon  the  same  while  yet 
in  its  infancy. 


AMERICAN  ANTIQUITIES.  33 


AMERICAN  ANTIQUITIES. 


A  short  time  since  a  notice  was  published  in  the 
city  papers  that  there  would  be  an  exhibition  and  a  lec- 
ture delivered  by  the  Rev.  R.  M.  Miller,  in  the  first 
Presbyterian  Church,  Allegheny,  Pennsylvania,  upon 
some  Indian  relics  lately  discovered  in  some  mounds 
near  Newark,  Ohio,  containing  Hebrew  inscriptions, 
and  as  a  matter  of  course  I  attended  the  lecture,  as  all 
Latter  Day  Saints  feel  considerable  interest  in  all  the 
testimony  pertaining  to  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  this 
land;  not  because  they  are  any  way  in  the  dark  upon 
the  history  of  the  past  in  relation  to  them,  but  because 
additional  testimony  strengthens  the  evidence  in  regard 
to  the  divine  authenticity  of  the  Bcok  of  Mormon,  in 
which  they  have  perfect  assurance  as  being  a  sacred  rec- 
ord, containing  the  covenant  for  the  gathering  of  Israel,  in 
conformity  with  the  testimony  of  the  prophets. 

The  reverend  gentleman  commenced  his  lecture  by 
giving  a  general  description  of  the  mounds  and  ancient 
fortifications  in  Ohio  and  the  western  country.  He  said 
that  it  was  estimated  there  were  in  the  state  of  Ohio, 
alone,  ten  thousand  of  them.  He  gave  a  very  clear  and 
distinct  description  of  the  situation  and  construction  of 
several  of  them  in^the  neighborhood  of  Newark,  Ohio, 
from  whence  the  relics  he  exhibited  were  obtained.  I 
believe  the  mounds  were  from  ten  to  twelve  miles  apart, 
where  they  were  found. 


34  AMERICAN    ANTIQUITIES. 

The  first  piece  he  exhibited  was  a  stone  head,  (or 
rather  a  photograph  of  it),  which  was  cut  off  of  the  neck, 
close  to  the  ears.  On  the  forehead  was  written,  in  He- 
brew, "May  the  Lord  have  mercy  upon  an  untimely 
birth."  He  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  person  who 
had  it  deposited  with  his  remains,  had  been  executed, 
perhaps  decapitated.  There  was  charcoal  and  burnt  bones 
of  animals  and  men  in  the  debris.  The  original  is  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Tennant,  of  Newark,  Ohio.  It  was 
found  in  a  mound  three  miles  from  Newark.  In  the 
same  mound  was  found  a  three  cornered  piece,  upon 
which  was  carved  two  human  faces  and  an  animal.  On 
the  forehead  of  one  of  the  figures  of  a  human  face  was  a 
phylacter,  in  the  form  of  a  skull,  upon  which  was  carved 
the  letter  used  to  denote  the  name  of  the  Almighty.  On 
the  forehead  of  the  other  carved  human  figure  was  writ- 
ten in  Hebrew,  "It  is  good  to  love  the  aged."  On  the 
side  of  the  animal  was  written  in  Hebrew  something  de- 
noting natural  depravity.  The  reverend  gentleman  said 
it  was  the  same  as  found  in  Jeremiah;  "The  heart  is  de- 
ceitful," &c.  Mr.  Strock,  of  Newark  owns  this. 

The  third  piece  was  in  the  shape  of  a  wedge.  On 
one  side  was  written,  in  Hebrew: 

First  side.  "The  Lord  is  king  of  all  the  earth." 

Second  side.  "  The  sword  of  the  Lord  is  tJie  law" 

Third  side.  "The  Holy  of  Holies" 

Fourth  side.  "  The  Jew  of  life  is  the  Lord  awaking 
souls" 

The  fourth  piece  was  what  he  called  a  Teraphim, 
a  household  god,  and  quoted  Judges  xvii.  to  prove  it. 

This  is  a  stone  about  eight  inches  long,  three  wide 
and  two  thick.  There  is  a  depression  on  one  side  of 


AMERICAN    ANTIQUITIES.  35 

about  half  an  inch  deep,  and  in  the  depression  there  is 
cut  the  figure  of  a  man  dressed  in  priestly  robes,  and 
over  his  head,  in  the  depression,  is  written  the  word 
" Moses?'  and  in  lines  on  the  back  and  edges  is  written 
in  Hebrew  the  ten  commandments  to  Israel,  written 
upon  the  tables  of  stone  by  the  finger  of  the  Lord  and 
given  to  Moses  upon  the  mount.  There  is  some  little 
difference  between  it  and  the  version  of  it  we  have  in 
the  "Bible.  It  is  a  little  more  brief.  For  instance  it 
says,  "  Who  brought  thee  from  the  land  of  bondage" 
and  "Six  days  slialt  thou  labor."  In  our  version  we 
have  this  addition:  "And  do  all  tliy  work"  These  are 
all  I  can  now  remember,  but  I  thought  the  brevity  made 
them  more  perfect. 

This  Teraphim  was  found  about  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  Newark,  near  the  base  of  a  very  large  mound.  This 
mound  is  composed  of  stones,  and  it  is  thought  that 
20,000  wagon  loads  were  carried  away,  some  years  ago, 
to  build  the  canal.  It  was  400  feet  at  the  base  and 
50  feet  high.  Near  its  base  a  small  mound  was  noticed, 
which  was  composed  entirely  of  fire  clay,  and  some  of 
the  men  at  work  in  that  neighborhood  thought  for  curi- 
osity that  they  would  dig  into  it,  and  see  if  any  thing 
particular  was  in  it.  The  person  dug  until  he  came  to 
a  piece  of  wood,  upon  which  he  found  some  copper  beads. 
He  took  them  away  and  of  course  exhibited  them.  This 
aroused  the  curiosity  of  another  party,  and  some  two  or 
three  persons  went  and  made  further  search  into  the  fire 
<jlay.  Upon  lifting  up  the  wood  it  proved  to  be  the 
lid  of  a  box,  lined  inside  with  some  kind  of  coarse  cloth, 
but  so  entirely  rotten  that  it  crumbled  at  the  touch. 
The  box  contained  a  skeleton  and  what  had  been  a  neck- 


36  AMERICAN    ANTIQUITIES. 

lace  of  copper  beads,  but  the  string  was  also  rotten.  The 
party  removed  the  wooden  box,  and  began  to  dig  some 
deeper.  They  soon  struck  a  stone  box  of  an  oblong 
shape,  cemented  together  in  the  middle.  They  shook 
and  found  it  contained  something,  as  it  rattled  when 
shaken.  They  forced  it  open  and  found  its  contents  to 
be  the  Teraphim,  or  image,  having  these  Hebrew  in- 
scriptions upon  it.  If  I  remember  correctly  this  was, 
found  in  the  year  1865,  the  others  some  year  or  two  be- 
fore. This  Teraphim  is  now  the  property  of  Mr.  David 
Johnson  of  Coshocton,  Ohio.  The  Rev.  Miller  seems 
to  be  a  good  Hebrew  scholar,  as  he  read  and  criticised 
the  language  in  the  presence  of  sey.eral  of  the  theological 
professors  of  the  Presbyterian  College  of  Alleghany  City. 
He  stated  that  he  had  taken  them  to  Cincinnati  and 
shown  them  to  several  learned  Eabbies,  and  they  were 
agreed  that  the  Hebrew  characters  were  of  a  date  be- 
yond the  time  of  Ezra.  He  described  on  a  board  the 
difference  of  the  formation  of  the  letters  before  and  after 
that  period. 

I  will  not  repeat  their  theories  and  conjectures  re- 
specting the  "wanderings  of  the  Israelites  to  reach  this 
land,  but  this  he  said  was  his  conclusion : 

First.  That  some  of  the  tribes,  or  parts  of  tribes 
of  Israel,  had  once  inhabited  this  land. 

Second.  That  they  were  mound  builders.  But 
whether  the  modern  Indians  are  their  descendents,  or 
whether  they  had  destroyed  the  Israelites  he  could  not 
say;  but  if  the  Indians  are  not  the  descendants  of  the 
mound  builders,  but  had  extirpated  them  then  the 
question  remains,  where  did  these  Indians  come  from 
and  who  are  they? 


ANCIENT  ISRAELITES.  37 

My  own  conclusion  respecting  these  things  is  that 
of  every  Latter  Day  Saint.  The  relics  were  hid  up  in 
the  providence  of  God,  as  collateral  testimony  of  the 
Latter  Day  Work,  and  especially  of  the  Book  of  Mormon. 

JOSIAII  ELLS. 

Pittsburg,  Pa,,  Aug.  12, 1866. 


CURIOUS  RELICS— ANCIENT  ISRAELITES] 
IN  AMERICA. 

"We  are  all  more  or  less  acquainted  with  the  so- 
called  'Indian  Mounds/  found  in  various  parts  of  our 
country.  There  are  hundreds  of  them  in  Ohio  alone, 
several  near  Newark,  Licking  County.  Pipes,  copper 
beads  strung  upon  a  vegetable  fibre,  human  skeletons, 
skulls,  bones  of  animals  and  birds,  some  charred  by  fire, 
as  if  they  had  been  sacrificed  upon  a  burning  pile,  have 
been  obtained  from  them.  For  centuries  it  has  been  a 
most  interesting  subject  of  inquiry  as  to  who  built  these 
mounds  and  whence  came  their  builders.  Within  the 
past  few  years  some  relics  have  been  discovered  which 
are  thought  to  throw  light  on  the  subject: 

The  first  is  a  little  coarse  sandstone,  not  quite  an 
inch  and  a  half  high  by  about  two  inches  long.  It  was 
found  in  the  'Wilson  Mound/  and  bears  the  face  of  a 
human  being.  On  the  forehead  are  five  distinct  Hebrew 
characters,  which  are  interpreted  to  mean :  "May  the 
Lord  have  mercy  on  him  (or  me)  an  untimely  birth," 
evidently  an  expression  of  humiliation. 

The  second  relic  from  the  same  mound  is  a  stone 


38  ANCIENT   ISRAELITES, 

closely  resembling  limestone.  It  is  rather  triangular 
than  square  in  its  form,  and  yet  it  differs  widely  from 
both.  It  represents  an  animal  and  contains  four  human 
faces  and  three  inscriptions  in  Hebrew,  signifying  de- 
votion, reverence  and  natural  depravity. 

The  third  stone  was  found  in  1860,  about  three 
miles  from  Newark.  It  is  shaped  like  a  wedge  and 
is  about  six  inches  long,  tapering  at  the  end.  On  one 
end  is  a  handle  and  at  tbe  top  are  four  Hebrew  inscrip- 
tions. 

The  last  relic  is  an  object  of  much  interest.  It  was 
found  in  1860,  and  has  engraved  upon  it  a  figure  of 
Moses  and  the  Ten  Commandments.'  One  side  is  de- 
pressed and  the  reverse  side  protrudes.  Over  the  figure 
is  a  Hebrew  word  signifying  "Moses/'  The  other  in- 
scriptions are  almost  literally  the  words  found  in  some 
parts  of  the  Bible,  and  the  Ten  Commandments  are 
given  in  part  and  entirely — the  longest  being  abbrevi- 
ated. The  alphabet  used,  it  is  thought,  is  the  original 
Hebrew  one,  as  there  are  letters  known  in  the  Hebrew 
alphabet  now  in  use,  but  bearing  a  resemblance  to  them. 
All  things  on  this  stone  point  to  the  time  before  Ezra, 
*  to  the  lost  tribes  of  Israel,  and  the  theory  is  that  some 
one  of  these  tribes  found  their  way  into  this  continent 
and  settled  where  the  State  of  Ohio  now  exists. — From 
the  Prophetic  Watchman,  Sept.  14,  1866. 


*  It  appears  that  "the  alphabet  used,  it  is  thought,  is  the  original 
Hebrew,"  and  why  do  the  Hebrew  scholars  who  have  examined  the  in- 
scriptions only  think  so,  and  why  are  they  not  certain  about  it  ?  Evident- 
ly because  there  is  only  in  part  a  resemblance  between  the  letters  in  these 
inscriptions  and  the  most  ancient  Hebrew  alphabet  of  which  Hebrew 
scholars  have  a  perfect  knowledge.  The  facts  developed  by  these  discov- 
eries, coincide  perfectly  with  a  statement  of  Mormon  in  Book  of  Mor- 
mon chap.  4,  par.  3,  who  says :  "If  our  plates  had  been  sufficiently  large 
we  should  have  written  in  Hebrew,  but  the  Hebrew  hath  been  altered  by 
us  also." 


HEBREW  RELICS.  39 


THE  HEBREW  EELICS. 

[These  two  inscribed  stones  have  been  sent  to  New  York  by  their 
discoverer  and  proprietor,  Mr.  David  Wyrick,  of  Newark,  Ohio,  to  Mr. 
Dwight  to  be  submitted  by  him  to  the  examination  of  the  learned,  accom- 
panied with  full  accounts  of  the  discovery,  and  maps  and  drawings  illus- 
trating the  place  and  circumstances.] 


We  suppose  that  many  if  not  most  of  our  readers 
have  seen,  in  religious  as  well  as  in  secular  papers,  the 
accounts  of  some  relics  which  were  found  a  few  months 
ago  in  a  mound  near  Newark,  Ohio.  These  relics  con- 
sist of  stones  of  strange  shapes,  bearing  Hebrew  inscrip- 
tions, which  makes  the  case  particularly  interesting  to 
me,  as  a  Hebrew.  I  have  read,  therefore,  with  great  in- 
terest, all  that  has  been  published  concerning  them,  and 
studied  the  opinions  of  different  men  of  science  and  learn- 
ing, who  have  expressed  them  in  public;  but  I  desired 
to  see  the  objects  themselves,  to  put  my  finger  on  these 
relics,  which  bear  [inscriptions  of  the  holy  language 
which  once  was  written  with  the  finger  of  God  upon 
tables  of  stone;  a  language  spoken  and  written  by  the, 
prophets  of  Israel,  who  predicted  the  main  features,  not 
only'of  the  history  of  Israel  but  also  of  the  world  at 
large.  It  is  one  of  the  peculiar  and  natural  character- 
istics of  the  Jews  to  feel  a  sacred  awe  for  that  language, 
and  even  for  "the  square  characters"  in  which  it  is  writ- 
ten ;  so  that  every  written  or  printed  Hebrew  page  is 


40  HEBREW  RELICS. 

called  "Shemos,"  by  which  the  people  mean  to  saj,  a 
paper  on  which  holy  names  are  printed  or  written.  A 
pious  Jew  would  never  use  any  Hebrew  book  or  paper 
for  any  secular  purpose  whatever,  and  carefully  picks  up 
every  bit  and  burns  it.  Being  now,  by  the  grace  of  G-od, 
an  ,"Israelite  Indeed,"  believing  in  Him  concerning 
whom  Moses  and  the  prophets  did  write,  that  sacred 
language  has  increas3d  in  its  charming  influence  upon 
my  mind,  this  may  explain  my  anxiety  to  see  those  rel- 
ics with  the  Hebrew  inscriptions,  without,  however,  en- 
tertaining the  least  hope  of  ever  having  that  wish  re- 
alized. This  time,  however,  I  was  gladly  disappointed ; 
for,  in  calling  a  few  days  ago  on  my  friend,  Mr.  Theodore 
D wight,  (the  Recording  Secretary  of  the  "American 
Ethnological  Society/'  and  my  associate  in  the  editor- 
ship of  this  magazine),  my  eyes  met  with  the  very  ob- 
jects of  my  desire.  That  I  examined  these  antiquities 
carefully  none  of  our  readers  will,  I  think,  entertain  any 
doubt.  I  recognized  all  the  letters  except  one,  (the 
crying  though  the  forms  of  many  of  them  are  different 
from  those  now  in  use.  This,  however,  is  not  the  case 
with  the  stone  found  first,  (viz,,  in  July,  1860),  which 
has  the  form  of  an  ancient  jar,  bearing  Hebrew  inscrip- 
tions on  its  four  sides,  which  are  perfectly  in  such  char- 
acters as  those  generally  in  use  now.  I  cannot  form  any 
opinion  concerning  the  use  or  meaning  of  this  which 
was  found  first,  as  the  inscriptions  do  not  lead  to  any 
suggestions  whatever.  They  are  as  follows:  1.  "Debar 
Jehova  "  (meaning  the  Word  of  Jehova).  2.  "Kodesh 
Kodeshim,"  (The  Holy  of  Holies).  3.  "  Thorath  Jeho- 
vah," (The  Law  of  Jehovah),  [and  4.  "Melelc  Arctz," 
(King  of  the  Earth  ^ 


HEBREW  RELICS.    :  41 

What  was  it  intended  for  ?  Is  it,  as  some  suppose, 
a  relic  of  ancient  Freemasonry  ?  We  cannot  concur  with 
that  idea ;  because  the  first  question  which  would  suggest 
itself  to  our  mind  is:  How  did  this  relic  get  into  a 
mound  of  the  ancient  Indians;  and  this,  too,  at  such  a 
considerable  depth,  and  altogether  singular  ?  We  must 
leave  the  solution  of  this  problem  to  after-days,  when 
men  of  industry  and  love  for  antiquities  shall  perhaps 
succeed  in  discovering  more  relics,  by  which  tke  present 
ones  may  find  an  explanation. 

This,  however,  is  not  the  case  with  that  before  men- 
tioned, which  was  found  on  the  first  of  November  last. 
It  is  evident — at  least  to  my  mind — that  the  writer,  or 
carver,  intended  to  perpetuate  the  essence  of  the  Di- 
vine law,  which  could  not  have  been  done  in  a  better 
way  than  by  engraving  it  on  a  stone  of  such  a  nature 
as  should  be  able  to  resist  all  influences  of  the  destroying 
tooth  of  time.  It  is  also  evident  to  my  mind  that  the 
writer  was  not  a  Jew  or  an  Israelite,  as  some  suppose, 
but  a  proselyte,  one  who  had  been  taught  by  a  Hebrew, 
and  perhaps  converted  to  abandon  his  idols,  to  believe 
in  one  living  and  invisible  God,  and  to  keep  his  com- 
mandments. My  reasons  for  believing  the  writer  not  to 
have  been  a  Jew,  are  briefly  these:  1.  The  veneration 
which  the  Hebrews,  of  all  classes,  pay  to  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  particularly  to  the  five  books  of  Moses  is 
so  great,  that  the  slightest  alteration,  even  of  a  point,  is 
considered  sinful;  and  the  roll  from  which  they  read  in 
the  synagogue,  in  which  is  found  any  alteration,  trans- 
position of  letter,  or  incorrectness — as,  for  instance,  a  chetli 
instead  of  a  Aory,  must  be  immediately  laid  by,  and  not 
allowed  to  be  used,  until  corrected.  A  Hebrew,  there- 


42  HEBREW  RELICS. 

fore,  who  knew  how  to  write  the  Ten  Commandments, 
would  have  either  written  them  perfectly,  or  not  at  all; 
and  as  there  are  many  mistakes  in  that  engraving,  some 
letters  entirely  wanting,  some  transposed,  and  some  su- 
perfluous, I  conclude  the  writer  was  not  a  Hebrew.  2. 
The  order,  or  rather  disorder,  in  which  the  Ten  Com- 
mandments are  engraved — of  which  we  have  nothing  of 
a  similar  kind  elsewhere — proves  that  the  author  was  . 
not  a  Hebrew.  3.  The  presence  of  a  human  figure,  how- 
ever, is  the  strongest  objection  against  the  supposition 
that  the  writer  was  a  Hebrew.  Though,  in  more  recent 
times,  after  the  invention  of  printing,  the  Jews  began  to 
imitate  the  Gentiles  in  having  the  figure  of  Moses, 
Aaron,  David,  and  Solomon  on  the  title-pages  of  their 
printed  Bibles  and  prayer-books,  yet,  in  ancient  days 
— the  age  when  this  stone  must  have  been  prepared — 
no  Hebrew  would  have  dared  to  carve  any  human  figure, 
even  that  of  Moses,  in  connection  with  the  Ten  Com- 
mandments. That  this  figure  led  to  a  fatal  mistake  is 
evident  from  the  fact  that  the  Rev.  and  learned  John 
W.  McCarty,  of  Newark,  Ohio,  who  first  deciphered 
and  read  the  inscription,  read  the  word  'Moshe — Moses 
— over  the  head  of  the  figure,  in  connection  with  the 
next  line  on  the  bas-relief,  commencing:  uWho  brought 
thee  out  from  the  land  of  Egypt,"  thus  making  Moses 
instead  of  Jehovah,  the  real  deliverer  of  Israel. 

The  discovery  of  that  very  remarkable  antiquity 
confirmed  me  in  my  opinion,  not  that  the  aborigines  of 
America  are  of  Hebrew  descent,  but  that,  at  some  remote 
age,  and  in  some  now  unknown  way,  one  or  more  pious 
and  distinguished  Hebrews  came  over  to  this  continent, 
became  the  teachers  of  some  of  the  wild  tribes  of  Amer- 


HEBREW  RELICS.  43 

ica,  and  thus  introduced  not  only  the  knowledge  of  the 
true  and  living  Jehovah  but  to  some  extent  Jewish,  or 
rather  Mosaic,  rites  and  ceremonies  also.  This,  I  think, 
is  the  real  reason  why,  after  the  invasion  of  this  conti- 
nent by  the  priest-ridden  and  fanatic  Spaniards  and 
Portuguese,  so  many  things  resembling  Judaism  and  the 
belief  in  one  who  came  to  enlighten  them,  but  who  de- 
parted, and  promised  to  come  again,  was  found  among 
the  southern  tribes  of  Indians,  and  all  pictures,  engrav- 
ings, and  signs  of  it  were  destroyed  by  superstitious 
priests  and  monks. 

One,  or  a  number  of  those  believing  Indians,  see- 
ing that,  in  the  absence  of  their  teachers,  the  people 
were  falling  gradually  back  into  their  old  Pagan  habits, 
became  alarmed;  and  fearing  that  in  a  short  time  all 
would  be  forgotten  and  lost,  concluded  to  preserve,  at 
least,  the  essence  of  faith  by  engraving  it  on  a  table  of 
stone.  They  did  it  with  the  best  of  their  knowledge  of 
the  Hebrew  writing,  as  well  as  of  the  construction  of 
the  passage. 

The  form  of  the  characters  is  neither  the  modern 
Hebrew,  (adopted  by  the  High  council  in  consequence 
of  the  fact  that  the  "Cuthiyiun,"  or  Samaritans,  adopt- 
ed the  ancient  Hebrew),  nor  is  it  the  Samaritan,  which 
shows  again  that  the  writer  or  writers  had  already  for- 
gotten much.  Of  one  thing,  however,  I  am  morally 
convinced,  that  this  stone  is  a  genuine  relic  of  antiqui- 
ty, as  it  would  be  a  greater  difficulty  to  believe  in  the 
invention  of  stich  a  strange  mixture  of  characters,  disor- 
der of  combination,  and  innocent  blunders,  than  to  be- 
lieve it  the  handiwork  of  a  generation  long  since  passed 
away. — Gr.  R.  LEDERER,  in  "Israelite  Indeed"  May,  1861 . 


44  ANTIQUARIAN  EVIDENCE. 


VALUE  OF  ANTIQUARIAN  EVIDENCE. 


Froni  these  and  from  other  relics,  as  well  as  from 
the  confirmatory  traditions  of  the  Indian  tribes  and 
nations,  as  related  to  the  whites,  it  is  plainly  evident 
that  the  testimony  existing  outside  of  the  Book  of  Mor- 
mon is  alone  sufficient  to  establish  the  claim  of  the  book 
that  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  America  did  possess  a 
knowledge  of  the  Hebrew  language,  and  that,  in  a 
modified  form,  they  wrote  it  upon  enduring  substances, 
some  of  which,  as  shown,  remain  unto  this  day. 

And  this  claim  was  made  by  the  book,  translated 
and  published  thirty  years  before  these  relics  were  found 
or  known,  and  at  a  time  when  such  an  idea  concerning 
the  origin  of  the  aborigines  of  this  country  was  not  even 
thought  of  by  the  world.  Hence  this  outside  testimony 
is  such  that  it  confirms  fully  the  claim  made ;  for  it  can 
neither  be  fitted  to  any  other  use  nor  be  otherwise 
rationally  accounted  for  or  interpreted. 

And,  not  only  do  science  and  research  show  that 
those  ancient  people  had  a  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew, 
but  it  also  brings  abundant  proof  to  substantiate  another 
claim  of  the  book,  namely  that  they  also,  understood  the 
Egyptian  language.  In  Mosiah  1:1,  it  is  said  that 
Lehi  was  learned  in  that  language,  and  that  he  taught 
it  to  his  children.  According  to  the  book  the  Nephites 
and  Lamanites  must  have  been  conversant  with  it,  and,  in 


ANTIQUARIAN  EVIDENCE.  45 

all  probability,  they  adopted  some  of  the  customs,  habits^ 
sciences  and  arts  of  Egypt,  and  were  governed  by  them 
after  their  arrival  in  America. 

In  substantiation  of  this,  yet  unknown  to  the  writ- 
ers of  the  corroborative  evidence,  is  the  language  of  the 
antiquarian  students  and  explorers  of  our  day.  Mr. 
Delafield,  in  his  Antiquities  of  America,  pages  41  and 
42,  writes  concerning  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  this 
land  as  follows : 

"Still  further  and  more  important  evidence!  renders  the  point 
conclusive  that  Southern  Asia  was  the  birth  place  of  this  people  ; 
as  we  detect  among  them  actual  traditions  of  the  flood,  the  build- 
ing of  Babel  and  of  the  death  of  Abel.  *  *  One  of  the  most 
interesting  sources  of  comparison  between  Mexico,  Peru  and 
Egypt,  is  to  be  found  in  an  investigation  of  their  hieroglyphic 
system.  Each  of  these  countries  has  a  peculiar  method  of  record- 
ing events  by  means  of  hieroglyphic  signs,  sculpturing  them  on 
monuments  and  buildings  and  portraying  them  on  papyrus." 

He  further  mentions  the  correspondence  that  Baron 
Humboldt  remarked  as  existing  between  the  Mexican 
paintings  and  the  writings  of  Egypt,  and  adds,  on  page 
46  of  his  own  book,  that  it  is  his  opinion  that  further 
investigations  will  exhibit  "a  closer  analogy  between  tHe 
Mexican  hieroglyphic  paintings  and  the  Egyptian/'  and 
that  he  finds  three  kinds  of  hieroglyphics  "common  to 
both  Mexico  and  Egypt." 

For  further  antiquarian  evidence  we  have  not  space, 
yet  many  pages  might  be  presented,  much  of  which, 
however,  can  be  found  elsewhere,  without  our  transcend- 
ing the  bounds  allowed  in  this  small  work; 


46  THREE  WITNESSES. 


THE  THREE  WITNESSES. 


In  addition  to  the  valuable  antiquarian  evidence 
herein  adduced,  and  much  more  that  might  he,  as  to 
the  divine  mission  of  Joseph  Smith,  there  stands  the 
solemn  and  unrecalled  testimony  of  the  three  witnesses> 
and  also  of  the  eight  witnesses,  whose  names  and  their 
depositions  are  found  on  page  30  of  this  pamphlet. 
These  all  asserted  and  affirmed  the  divine  revelation  of 
the  book.  And,  in  connection  with  their  testimonies 
given  on  that  page,  we  present  the  fact  that  these  men 
never  swerved  from  that  witness;  but,  through  all  the 
persecution,  tribulation,  infirmity,  old  age,  and  even  unto 
death,  they  repelled  with  indignation  all  efforts  made  to 
have  them  recant  and  say  that  their  testimonies  were 
liesi 

Of  the  first  one  of  the  three  witnesses,  Oliver  Cow- 
dery,  it  is  said  that  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1849,  he  never  deviated  from  his  testimony 
concerning  the  Book  of  Mormon,  but  bore  the  same 
witness  to  the  end,  namely  that  it  was  given  of  Grod, 
and  that  the  work  established  under  Joseph  Smith  was 
also  divine. 

David  Whitmer  is  living  yet,  (1879),  and  he  has 
never  recalled  his  testimony  concerning  the  Book  of 
Mormon,  but  has  ever,  with  great  cheerfulness  and  joy, 
loved  to  converse  on  God's  work,  and  especially  to  tell 


THREE  WITNESSES.  47 

the  circumstances  surrounding  the  coming  forth  of  the 
Book  of  Mormon,  and  to  relate  his  experiences  therein, 
declaring  the  same  things  about  it  that  he  did  when 
he  first  subscribed  to  the  divine  presentation  of  the 
plates  to  himself  and  his  fellow  witnesses ;  as  heretofore 
recorded  in  this  book.  One  of  his  latest  reported  con- 
versations was  in  September  1878,  when  he  was  inter- 
viewed at  his  home  in  Richmond,  Missouri.  In  answer 
to  the  question  as  to  when  he  saw  the  plates,  the  angel, 
the  other  records,  etc.,  he  replied : 

"It  was  in  June,  1829,  the  latter  part  of  the  month,  and  the 
eight  witnesses  saw  them,  I  think,  a  day  or  two  after  we  did. 
Joseph  himself  showed  the  plates  to  the  eight  witnesses,  but  the 
angel  showed  them  to  us,  the  three  witnesses.  Martin  Harris 
was  not  with  us  this  (the  first)  time  but  he  obtained  a  view  of 
them  afterwards  the  same  day.  We  not  only  saw  the  plates  of 
the  Book  of  Mormon  but  also  the  brass  plates,  and  the  plates  of 
the  Book  of  Ether,  and  the  plates  containing  the  records  of  the 
wickedness  and  secret  combinations  of  the  world  down  to  the 
time  of  their  being  engraved,  and  also  many  other  plates.  *  * 
We  were  overshadowed  by  a  light,  one  not  like  the  light  of  the 
sun  or  of  a  fire,  but  one  more  glorious  and  beautiful.  It  extend- 
ed away  around  us,  and  in  the  midst  of  the  light  there  appeared, 
as  it  were,  a  table,  with  many  plates  or  records  upon  it  besides 
the  plates  of  the  Book  of  Mormon;  also  the  sword  of  Laban,  and 
the  directors,  (that  is  the  ball  which  Lehi  had),  and  the  interpre- 
ter. I  saw  them  just  as  plainly  as  I  see  this  bed,  (striking  with 
his  hand  the  bed  by  which  he  sat),  and  I  heard  the  voice  of  the 
Lord  as  distinctly  as  I  ever  heard  any  thing  in  my  life,  declaring 
that  the  records  of  the  plates  of  the  Book  of  Mormon  were  trans- 
lated by  the  gift  and  power  of  God." 

In  answer  to  the  question  if  he  saw  the  angel  of  the 
Lord  at  that  time  he  replied : 

"Yes,  he  stood  before  us.  Our  testimony  as  recorded  is 
strictly  and  absolutely  true,  just  as  it  is  written/7 


48  THREE  WITNESSES. 

Martin  Harris,  the  third  one  of  the  three  witnesses, 
died  a  few  years  ago,  and,  up  to  the  time  of  his  departure 
for  another  world,  his  witness  remained  the  same;  and 
he  asserted  with  vigor  and  energy  the  divinity  of  the 
Book  of  Mormon,  as  revealed  to  him  by  the  angel  and 
the  voice  of  Go$,  just  as  the  other  two  say.  In  a  let- 
ter written  by  him  in  1870,  he  said : 

"No  man  ever  heard  me  in  any  way  deny  either  the  Book 
of  Mormon,  or  the  administration  of  the  angel  that  showed  me 
the  plates,  or  the  organization  of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  of 
Latter  Day  Saints  under  the  administration  of  Joseph  Smith,  Jr., 
the  prophet,  whom  the  Lord  raised  up  for  that  purpose  in  these 
latter  days,  that  he  might  show  forth  his  power  and  glory.  The 
Lord  has  shown  me  these  things  by  his  Spirit,  and  by  the  admin- 
istration of  angels,  and  confirmed,  the  same  with  signs  following 
for  the  space  of  forty  years.  *  *  I  do  say  that  the  angel  did 
show  me  the  plates  containing  the  Book  of  Mormon,  and  further 
that  the  translation  that  I  carried  to  Prof.  Anthon  was  copied 
from  those  plates." — Saint-s*  Herald,  yol.  22,  page  630. 

It  would  seem  that  any  reasonable  person  should 
be  satisfied  to  receive  these  testimonies  and  to  examine 
for  themselves,  and  to  inquire  of  God  himself  for  a 
knowledge  of  the  truth  of  these  things,  even  to  call  up- 
on Him  of  whom  it  is  said : 

"If  any  man  lack  wisdom  let  him  ask  of  God  who  giveth 
to  all  men  liberally  and  upbraideth  not,  and  it  shall  be  given  him. 
But  let  him  ask  in  faith  nothing  wavering." — James  1  : 6-8. 

That  these  truths  may  find  favor  with  the  honest 
in  heart  and  with  those  who  desire  to  know  God,  is  our 
prayer.  Amen. 


Printed  at  the  Herald  Office,  Piano,  Kendall  Co.,  Illinois. 


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